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WASHINGTON -- Outside groups spent more in the last two weeks trying to influence Indiana's Senate race than the entire cost of Indiana's last Senate race.

The more than $10 million spent by the national parties and by interest groups on ads, mailings and other forms of persuasion shows how important Indiana has become in the battle for control of the Senate.

"It tells you everything you need to know about how close the Senate is, how every race counts and the opportunity that Democrats see here," said Jennifer Duffy who tracks Senate races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. ...